Chapter 40 – Working for Hades
Dreamer
I didn't want to wake up. I was having the most fantastic dream. I feared that once I opened my eyes, I was going to forget everything. As it was, I was trying to chase the surreal fragments of my dream, but they'd begun to blend in the backdrop. I vaguely remembered little tornadoes, winged pups, soldiers, a beach then a river inhabited by a fascinating creature.
And a cave. Where the most exquisite things happened. With Ice. Oh, the things he did. The things we did. I wouldn't mind having that dream on replay forever.
I stretched my arms and felt the blanket brush my skin directly.
My eyes snapped open. Why was I naked? I pulled back the blanket to cover myself and realized that I was not in my own bedroom. And there was a gorgeous man wearing only a pair of dark jeans, standing at the foot of the bed.
Looking at Ice shirtless, examining every defined curve and cut of his perfectly toned body, made me think I was probably still dreaming. Till Ice walked toward the bed and sat down next to me. Before I could stop myself, I reached out and pressed a finger on his drool-worthy biceps, and when he did not pop and disappear like a bubble, I quickly withdrew my hand and clutched the blanket to my chin.
"You are real," I whispered loudly. "Oh my goodness, that was a not a dream."
Ice chuckled and goosebumps prickled my entire body. When did Ice's laugh become so sexy? I wanted to drag him back to bed with me and looking at him now staring intensely at me, it seemed he wanted the same thing. He bent toward me and trapped me between his two perfectly muscled arms. I was eager to lean back into the pillows and take him with me.
But wait. I raised a hand to his chest, stopping him where he was. How did I get here? I remembered the most delightful segments and I was dancing in my head, celebrating that it did happen, but how did I get from point A to point bliss?
And when my hand started to get warm against his chest, I felt my face turn hot as well and I pulled my hand back.
"You weren't so shy last night," Ice said, a sensual grin on his face.
I took a deep breath—must resist the oozing hotness and figure things out. I didn't like it, but I needed to ask. Cringing because I knew I was about to sound stupid, I probed, "This might sound crazy, but... how did I get here?"
Ice looked confused. "You don't remember? Anything?"
"Uh... except for the part where you were wonderful," I said, turning red from the roots of my hair to the tips of my toes, "everything else is blurry."
Ice smirked, appearing ten times hotter than ever. How did he do that?
Then he leaned closer to me and touched the pearl necklace around my neck. "You found the pearl. You decided dinner at my place instead. You saw Francis' collection of vodka and told me you could handle your drink. Which you sort of did and I was thrilled with how... honest and spontaneous you became after a few glasses."
"Oh." All the times I'd been foolish and reckless after drinking too much came flashing in my head, starting with the night of the prom where Ice had found me at the park and I had lost him for the next ten years. What if I'd triggered that series of events again?
"Oh, no," I moaned as I covered my face with my hands. "Please tell me I didn't say or do anything that's going to drive you away again."
Ugh, that sounded awfully insecure. I hated it.
"Selene," Ice said as he gently pried my hands away from my face. "I love you. I'm not going anywhere."
He gave me no chance to tell him I loved him, too, because he pulled me to him and kissed me softly first, but when I wrapped my hands around his shoulders, he drew me to him and his kiss grew deeper. He became more demanding—more insistent—as if he felt he would never get enough so he was trying to get the most out of every second.
When Ice raised his head so we could catch our breath, I looked into his green eyes and I couldn't help but feel there was something different about him. Yes, we'd only recently gotten together, but there had always been something distinct about him that I'd felt when we were kids and even when we'd met each other again that first night at The Fields.
Tonight though, it was missing and there was something completely different about Ice and I couldn't put my finger on it.
Ice nuzzled my neck and I couldn't remember what I wanted to figure out. He kissed my naked shoulder and I almost passed out at the touch of his lips.
"Let's take a shower then have breakfast," Ice murmured at my ear.
"T-together?" I stuttered. I might need another round of vodka to have the confidence to do that in broad daylight.
Ice kissed me deeply again before pushing himself off the bed. He stood up and gave me his hand. "My sweet Selene, you go ahead and use the bathroom while I make us some orange juice and pancakes."
No coffee obviously. But an Adonis preparing me breakfast was a gazillion times better than any brewed drink.
I took the quickest shower ever and met Ice in their kitchen. Francis was at the breakfast nook, a jar of cookies open in front of him.
"Good morning, Selene. Had a good night?" Francis asked, giving me a wink.
I colored at the thought that Francis had been in the next room.
"We definitely had a better night than you," Ice answered for me as he put a plate full of blueberry pancakes on the table and sat beside me. "Markus told me he had to bail you out this morning because of some violation. Coincidentally, there was a slight disturbance in our street earlier because someone was caught peering outside Robyn Sparrow's window."
"That was not me," Francis denied then looked at his watch. "Oh, look at the time. I have an appointment in five minutes. Got to go, guys!"
Francis grabbed the last three cookies in the jar and ran out of the house before we could say anything.
We finished breakfast and I helped Ice clear the table. I offered to wash the dishes that had piled up since dinner, but he wouldn't have it.
As much I wanted to stare at Ice while he loaded the dishwasher, I looked for my bag and got my phone. I switched it on and was irritated to see ten voice messages and twice the amount of text messages from the same person. I had just finished reading the first five messages when my phone started ringing. I stared at the device with aversion till I felt Ice stand behind me and wrap his arms around me.
"Work?"
"Yes," I grumbled. "Writing used to be fun. Now, I wonder why I do write. I don't know what's going to happen tomorrow. There could be an earthquake. I could be in an accident. It might..."
I didn't get to finish my last sentence because Ice spun me around to face him so fast, I might've suffered whiplash. I didn't expect to see the look on Ice's face though.
He looked distraught. "Don't say that, Selene. Don't give the Fates ideas. Life is too short as it is."
Oookay. Someone might need more sugar this morning. And with my phone still blaring infuriatingly, I wouldn't mind a few spoonsful as well—preferably in a cup of cappuccino.
"Life is too short, and what am I contributing? Life is unpredictable unlike my stories. I feel I'm just rehashing ideas that had been formed before."
My phone fell silent. An inanimate object affirming my weariness.
Ice grasped my hands and stared at me so seriously, I felt like squirming. "Life is brief, but beautiful. And every story you weave is another life you selflessly share with the rest of us."
I... didn't know what to say to that.
Who was this person before me? I'd never met anyone as profound. And inspiring. And I felt I was ruining the moment with the stupid grin now on my face. "Thank you, Ice."
Ice drew me to him and I didn't mind spending the rest of the day in his arms, but my phone started ringing again.
Ice let go of me to answer the call, but told me, "You have an incredible imagination, Selene. You don't need that sort of pressure from your asshat of a boss."
Aaaw. Just when I thought I couldn't love Ice more.
Time to face hell. Reluctantly, I answered the call.
"Meet me for lunch," Noah told me with a clipped tone. Then with feigned enthusiasm, added, "I have a surprise for you."
"Noah, I can't today," I said quietly, making sure he wouldn't hear any annoyance in my voice. I had wrapped up our last project and I was on a much-deserved leave.
Noah didn't bother hiding his displeasure when he barked over the phone, loud enough for anyone within the vicinity to hear, "You've been off the grid for two days. Meet me at the Diamond Lounge by noon or you could start looking for another publisher."
And with that, he disconnected the line. Ugh, he was such a diva. And I abhorred going to that bistro with its overpriced drinks and lofty clientele.
I dropped my phone in my bag and turned around to see Ice scowling. "Have I told you I worked for Hades?"
Ice stopped glowering and replied, "I could imagine. But I think the real god would resent hearing that. I wish I could call in a favor."
I laughed. "I love you, Ice."
Ice again enfolded me in his arms and nuzzled my head with his. "See you tonight?"
I beamed at him. I didn't want to let go, but I needed to if I didn't want my tyrant of a boss to let go of me. "Where?"
"Meet me at the gallery."
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